“May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.” – 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

Unfortunately, our hope usually resides in our circumstances. We are happy and encouraged when things are going our way, and we depressed and hopeless when life gets difficult. This is the natural posture of human beings. So often, the only thing that separates Christians from the rest of the world is that we spiritualize this error. We say we hope in God, but what we really do is “hope” that God will arrange our circumstances to our liking; and when He doesn’t, we lose hope. But this is not the kind of hope the Bible talks about.

The hope that we see in Scripture is a hope in a restored relationship to God through Jesus Christ. Our hope is founded in the truth that God loves us and sent His son to save us. Because of this, we can be confident that we are in a right relationship with Him today and for all eternity. And in this relationship we can be sure that God is always working for our good. So this week, do not let your hope rise and fall on your circumstances. But instead rejoice in the true hope of an intimate relationship with your Heavenly Father.

Father, forgive us for the times when our hope is simply circumstantial. Give us the wisdom and confidence to truly hope in You every day and on into eternity.

In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Shane Cannon <><